What kicked your REAR into GEAR???

MFP all the way.

I'd say opportunity, honestly. I gained weight over a period of several months during which a lot of stuff happened all at once, leaving me with little time for fitness and depending on quick/easy/not too healthy foods. My husband's cousin died of cancer in December, and my stepmother passed away of cancer as well less than 48 hours later- so with it came family gatherings, funerals, and a lot of time spent sitting down and working through paperwork. On top of it, I went back to school (online) last year, which left me pretty sedentary. Then there was the fact that I got married in April, and had a lot of things to do and crafts to make there. On top of all that, I came down with mystery digestive ailment that had me sick, almost constantly, for over six months straight. You'd think I'd have lost weight, given how sick I was- but I gained because I felt queasy whenever I moved and my metabolism got messed up and... blah, blah, blah. At the end of the day, every spare second of my time was devoted to something and, when I wasn't working on that stuff, I was lying in bed sick.

My doctor finally wound up finding a medication that worked for my health issues, right around the same time I got married and finished school for the summer. As soon as the opportunity presented itself for me to get active again, I seized it with both hands and ran with it. I'll admit, I'm a bit nervous about how I'll handle things once I go back to school next month and start my new job in a week and a half- but at the same time, I think I'm better equipped to deal with that stuff than I was before because I have a routine now, and because my health is so much better.

So angry with myself that save for sweats, not a single piece of clothing that I owned fit me in January of this year. I lived in sweats and other stretchy/baggy clothing. It is much better now having gotten to work!

My friends and I were talking about who would survive the longest if we were stranded on an island. I had 'tried' multiple times before to lose weight, but this time it just really hit home when my friend looked at me and said "Well, no offense, but I think you and I would die first, you know, we're both in horrible shape." I had been playfully teased like this countless times before, but I guess that was just the final straw. I was done with hiding in baggy clothes and being joked about.

I was quite large and by joining here I lost 42lbs. Then I regained it after I discovered I was Bipolar. I realised the weight had crept back on and I was starting to get out of breath - even bending down! The pics of myself was the last straw. Now I'm back on it! For good!!

Hitting eleven stone. That was it. That. Was. IT.

I woke up one morning with a huge hangover and remembered that the previous night, in my drunken state, I'd got a curry on the way home... and that was after an early evening meal!! Felt awful and thought "this has to change!".

That morning was 1st July, and the start of the second half of the year seemed a perfect time for change. So I cut right back on the booze and have at least tried to eat more sensibly.

Result? Lost a stone in the first month, just need to keep it going now.

Not being able to walk into a shop and buy any clothes my size and if I did find anything to fit they were basically stretchy tents, I had no "shape" except for looking like a sack of potatos and no interest in buying clothes or looking good. I dressed like an 80 year old. My husband meanwhile has an outdoor job at a golfclub and is superfit, he walk miles and miles every day, eats healthy and looks like Daniel Craig,I just kept worrying he would find someone else fitter and more attractive, god bless him he loves me no matter what size I am , but he isnt blind, he is being kind to me saying it doesnt matter. Even I wouldnt fancy me if I was a man.

Second factor was my health, it would be fair to say Im Lemony Snickerts twin, Ive had 3 cancer scares in the last 2 years, borderline heart problems , high blood pressure,anaemia, arthritis, migraine and kidney stones BUT im resilient, I like to think I can bounce back from anything in life and I want to lose weight and get healthy, im also the biggest wimp, when im in hospital I only ever have 2 questions does it hurt and will I die , that covers everything!

The final straw was walking into one of those chinese medicine stores to buy some rgeen tea which I thought would miraculously take off 6 stones haha , there was a big queue so I sat down to wait and I kid you not I broke the chair and ended up on the floor!

So....I joined MFP . am committed to losing weight and getting into a shape ( any shape will do as long as its out-in-out) and am buying new clothes!! I am not waiting until Ive lost weight, Im buying clothes for the size I am as well as the next size down. That is a huge thing for me as im very thrifty and dont like to waste money on stuff that wont last.

I know im happier because im no longer wearing invisible shades of black or grey but have bought clothes in cherry red, electric blue and sunshine yellow, ive moved on from being a Lowry to a Jackson Pollock. I am no longer that fat woman, Im an exciting work in progress, its exciting to get this sorted out and I wish Id made a start years ago.